Thursday, January 29, 2015

Walker Lake, which should stand as a showcase for Nevada has certainly seen much
adversity over the years. The once thriving, natural high desert lake provided
the Agaicutta People (Paiute for Cutthroat Trout) with food sources that were
much more varied and higher in nutrition that our modern diets. Fish,
wildlife, water fowl and vegetation were plentiful and life was good. Once the
settlers started moving in, the Walker River, the main source of water that
feeds Walker Lake, was diverted for agriculture usage. Today, the Walker River
is at least 130% over allocated. As a result, not enough fresh water enters
Walker Lake, which has caused the level to drop and the salinity to increase.
Presently, due to the high salt level, the lake is no longer able to support
native fish.

Walker Lake's origin dates back to the Pleistocene epoch,
(Ice Age) when Lake Lahontan covered most of what is now the Great Basin
Desert. As the land dried and the climate warmed, Lake Lahontan began to
recede, leaving a number of isolated lakes in closed basins, including Walker
Lake.

Not too long ago, Walker Lake was a thriving source of water out
in the desert. It was known for the Lahontan Cutthroat Trout which could grow to
40 pounds in size. Walker Lake was also a major stop-over for migratory birds.
Located on the Pacific Flyway, the north-south travel route for American
migratory birds, the water and shores provided essential food sources for the birds to rest
and refuel.

Since the salty lake can no longer support the native
fish, many of the seasonal visitors like the Common Loons that used to number in
the hundreds no longer stop over at the lake. However a large number of shore
birds still make Walker Lake their home, including the California Gull, American
Coot, Long billed crulew and even the salt-loving Phalaropes.

The
latest adversity to hit Walker Lake is an outbreak of Avian cholera that could
put the remaining shore birds in great peril.

A number of dead birds have been
spotted along the shore at Walker Lake.

Most of the birds appear to be American
Coots.

There was one Mallard that appeared to have washed up on the
shore.

Avian cholera is a disease of fowl, which has crossed over from
wild birds to become most prevalent in waterfowl. The disease is found in
wetland areas all across the globe and even North America. Most of the
outbreaks occur during the cold, wet weather of winter.

The bodies of several American Coots are caught in the tumbleweeds that line the shore.

Unfortunately
once the disease is transmitted, it is almost impossible to contain. The area
becomes contaminated with body secretions from diseased birds, which can remain
in the water for several weeks. It is spread by direct contact to birds that
are showing various symptoms including mucous draining from the mouth, nasal
discharge and blood stained diarrhea.

The bacteria is ingested from
contaminated food and even spread by birds scavenging on infected carcasses.

Avian cholera is a horrible disease and has been know to kill so
quickly that birds literally die while flying and fall from the sky.

Infected
birds may suffer convulsions, disorientation where they swim in circles, throw
their heads around violently and even fly upside down.

The only means
of containment is prompt removal and proper disposal of the dead carcasses. I
am very concerned at this time how long these birds have been lying dead and how
many other birds have become diseased. Time will surely tell and I do hope with
all my being that Walker Lake will not suffer another major loss in its beauty
of all the remaining birds the grace her beautiful skies.

What
an exciting and interesting photo-adventure this day has been. I love
it when I am drawn to an area and not knowing what to expect I get
treated to new experiences.

Sign up and follow my blog to see where my next photo-adventure will be!

Photography places me in the moment where I can share that
moment in time. It becomes a life story as represented by my
interaction with the scene. The happiness and beauty or the sorrow and
strife; how I focus leaves a lasting impression that might touch the
viewer on a spiritual level.

No images on this blog are within Public Domain or are available for free download.

All rights reserved, world-wide and images protected by Digital
Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). All photography, graphics, text,
design, and content is copyrighted by Bonnie Rannald and should not be
copied, down-loaded, transferred and re-created in any way without the
express consent, in writing to Bonnie Rannald.
For information on Bonnie Rannald licensed, right-managed images, please
submit a written request.

Saturday, January 24, 2015

Far off the beaten path and nestled in the rugged canyons of Central
Nevada lies a unique ecosystem of Piñon and tall Ponderosa's pines, where nature
seems to thrive against all odds. A small stream flows down between trees that
are so huge; they must be over 100 years old.

This stream is Alum Creek and is
located south of Lucky Boy Pass in Mineral County, Nevada. Around the mid 1800's
when mining was in it’s hey day, a creek in the Lucky Boy area flowed from Poison
Spirit to Cottonwood Creek. The presence of alum in solution was discovered in
this creek so it became known as Alum Creek. During this time, the Lucky Boy
mines that were located in the Alum Creek district were producing yearly over a
million dollars of silver and lead.

In present times, only a small
trickle of water still flows down the creek bed. With the severe drought that
has been plaguing both Nevada and California, I am very surprised the creek has
not completely dried up. Over winter, even the snow pack that replenishes the
ground water has become less significant.

With the climate warming and
drying, will the pines that have created this unusual habitat still be able to
adapt? The piñon pine, Pinus edulis, native to the Southwestern U.S. will
survive on available water and is drought tolerant. Piñon can grow to 15-35 ft
(4.6-10.7 m) tall and 12-24 inches (.3-.6 m) in diameter. They produce the
edible pinyon nuts which were a staple food source for the Native
Americans.

The Ponderosa pine, Pinus ponderosa is found in mountainous
topography at elevations 3,000 and 9,000' (914-2700m) where there is moderate
rainfall. Mature trees can reach from 60-130' (18-39 m) with a diameter of
30-60" (9-1.7 m).

Alum Creek which at one time was a favorite area for
family outings and picnics still offers a peaceful mountain retreat from the
high desert landscape.

While I sit and admire the green pines that reach for
the deep blue sky, two lizards come out to warm in the sun. As I watch them I
ask a silent blessing on this unique pocket that time seems to have overlooked.
I hope against all odds that the unique ecosystems of Alum Creek will have the
tenacity to adjust and that we will continue to enjoy its peace and oneness of
nature for many generations to come.

What
an exciting and interesting photo-adventure this day has been. I love
it when I am drawn to an area and not knowing what to expect I get
treated to new experiences.

Sign up and follow my blog to see where my next photo-adventure will be!

Photography places me in the moment where I can share that
moment in time. It becomes a life story as represented by my
interaction with the scene. The happiness and beauty or the sorrow and
strife; how I focus leaves a lasting impression that might touch the
viewer on a spiritual level.

No images on this blog are within Public Domain or are available for free download.

All rights reserved, world-wide and images protected by Digital
Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). All photography, graphics, text,
design, and content is copyrighted by Bonnie Rannald and should not be
copied, down-loaded, transferred and re-created in any way without the
express consent, in writing to Bonnie Rannald.
For information on Bonnie Rannald licensed, right-managed images, please
submit a written request.

Sunday, January 18, 2015

Do you sometimes have a week where you just have to get away from technology,
communications and all news media? When I have one of those weeks, Mono Lake is
one of my favorite places to retreat from the world and find peace.

The
ancient lake which is known to have an age of at least 760,000 years, might
actually date back to over 1 million years and is one of the oldest lakes in
North America. With a level of 6378.9 feet asl (1,946 meters) and approximate
volume of 2.6 million acre feet, Mono Lake is cradled among extinct volcano
domes. The Sierra Nevada Mountains and the gateway to Yosemite rise up in the
near distance.

Sitting in a quiet spot and gazing out over the salty,
alkaline blue water, I feel a peaceful solitude.

Today, the ecosystem of the
lake is composed of algae, brine shrimp and alkali flies, which is a huge draw
for any number of breeding and migratory birds. However on this cold day, the
shores are still and the lake quiet from the repose of winter.

Tufa towers accent the shoreline, reminding me of rocks that represent
the souls of ancestors.

Tufa are produced from the interaction of freshwater
springs and alkaline lake water, forming calcium-carbonate spires and knobs.

As I sit in my solitude and reminisce about the life and times of this
primitive lake, the sun drops lower in the sky, signaling that it's time to be
on my way. On my return home, I must travel the winding road through the 7626
feet (2324.4 m) Anchorite Pass and at night there is always the concern about
hitting in to wildlife on the dark road.

What
an exciting and interesting photo-adventure this day has been. I love
it when I am drawn to an area and not knowing what to expect I get
treated to new experiences.

Sign up and follow my blog to see where my next photo-adventure will be!

Photography places me in the moment where I can share that
moment in time. It becomes a life story as represented by my
interaction with the scene. The happiness and beauty or the sorrow and
strife; how I focus leaves a lasting impression that might touch the
viewer on a spiritual level.

No images on this blog are within Public Domain or are available for free download.

All rights reserved, world-wide and images protected by Digital
Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). All photography, graphics, text,
design, and content is copyrighted by Bonnie Rannald and should not be
copied, down-loaded, transferred and re-created in any way without the
express consent, in writing to Bonnie Rannald.
For information on Bonnie Rannald licensed, right-managed images, please
submit a written request.

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

After several failed attempts chasing around the night sky looking for Comet
Lovejoy with my Nikon 500mm lens, I was finally able to catch the tiny green
fuzzy image before it became too faint to recognize. The New Year's comet or
Comet C/2014 Q2 Lovejoy is named for the Australian comet-hunter Terry Lovejoy
who first spotted it on August 17, 2014. Passing closest to Earth on January 7,
2015, the comet was reported to be at its brightest on this evening and easily
visible before moonrise.

Several years ago, the dark night skies over
Walker Lake were outstanding as they glittered with stars. At this time, I would
walk outside to watch the Milkey Way overhead which seemed so close that I could
almost reach up and touch the stars. Now days, people seem to need more
artificial light and the wondrous stars no longer stand out against the dark
sky. Hoping for darker skies, I went over to the camping area at Sportsman's
Beach to try and catch a photo of the comet. Unfortunately as far as I was from
artificial lights, the sky that had once brought stargazers to Walker Lake was
not that dark anymore.

Carefully looking through my lens, I was
finally able to catch a faint glimpse of Comet Lovejoy in the upper right
quadrant of the sky, high above the Constellation Orion.

Although I
did not get the hoped for clear photo of Comet Lovejoy, the evening's
photography wasn't a total wash. Soon the sky over the Gillis Mountain Range
began to lighten as the remainder of January's full moon started to ascend in
the east sky.

Changing over to my Nikon 35-70mm lens, I caught the
mountains reflecting in the calm water with the stars shining in the
distance.

Just before the moon peeked over the mountain, I focused in on
Jupiter shining brightly and glowing in the lake.

Maybe if there is
another clear, calm night in January, I might try my luck on an old mining trail
road and see if the skies are any darker from that location.

What
an exciting and interesting photo-adventure this day has been. I love
it when I am drawn to an area and not knowing what to expect I get
treated to new experiences.

Sign up and follow my blog to see where my next photo-adventure will be!

Photography places me in the moment where I can share that
moment in time. It becomes a life story as represented by my
interaction with the scene. The happiness and beauty or the sorrow and
strife; how I focus leaves a lasting impression that might touch the
viewer on a spiritual level.

No images on this blog are within Public Domain or are available for free download.

All rights reserved, world-wide and images protected by Digital
Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). All photography, graphics, text,
design, and content is copyrighted by Bonnie Rannald and should not be
copied, down-loaded, transferred and re-created in any way without the
express consent, in writing to Bonnie Rannald.
For information on Bonnie Rannald licensed, right-managed images, please
submit a written request.

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

After a very cold spell over the holidays, I was ready to stretch my legs and
get my photography finger clicking. My plan was to time my outing when the
temperature warmed just enough to produce freezing fog which would accent the
landscape with a surrealistic effect.

I headed over to Lee Vining, California
and Mono Lake where there is so much diversity in the terrain. Unfortunately I
was not in luck for any freezing fog dazzling the landscape this day, but the
clouds were putting on a bravo performance.

Of the many aspects that I love
about nature photography, coming on an ordinary object that stands out with its
own unique story is definitely my favorite. Such was the case when I took a
turn on a dirt road just down from an interesting out-cropping of layered
volcanic rocks.

Having just read a New Year's post from a friend regarding
happy gains and missed opportunities, these words kept running through my
thoughts as I started walking.

At the entrance to road 3N103 stands a
monument to what remains of the Bodie and Benton Short Line Rail Road.

Over looking the
High Sierra's and Mono Basin, the narrow-gauge line ran between Mono Mills and
Benton.

Built in 1881, the 32 mile (54.49km) rail brings back reflections of a
past era. I could just envision the train loaded with ore traveling through
mountains and forests to reach the mining town of Bodie which stood at 8,500
feet (2950.8 m) elevation.

As a token of missed opportunities, tumbleweed
grows in the desert sand between the railroad ties.

The rail
line was dismantled in 1918 due to the decline of mining in Bodie around the
1910's. Bodie now stands persevered with the California State Parks as a ghost
town.

Across from the railroad monument, the bare trunk of a cedar tree
catches my eye. Since it is the only large tree in the area, I wonder what
stories it could tell.

A glance at the clouds moving across the basin
signaled that it was time to move on and explore other locations, plus as the
sun rose higher so was the air temperature. Furthermore, I was very interested
to find how far I could get toward Tioga Pass and the gateway to Yosemite. Stay
tuned for the next leg of my outing and a detour to Virginia Lake.

What
an exciting and interesting photo-adventure this day has been. I love
it when I am drawn to an area and not knowing what to expect I get
treated to new experiences.

Sign up and follow my blog to see where my next photo-adventure will be!

Photography places me in the moment where I can share that
moment in time. It becomes a life story as represented by my
interaction with the scene. The happiness and beauty or the sorrow and
strife; how I focus leaves a lasting impression that might touch the
viewer on a spiritual level.

No images on this blog are within Public Domain or are available for free download.

All rights reserved, world-wide and images protected by Digital
Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). All photography, graphics, text,
design, and content is copyrighted by Bonnie Rannald and should not be
copied, down-loaded, transferred and re-created in any way without the
express consent, in writing to Bonnie Rannald.
For information on Bonnie Rannald licensed, right-managed images, please
submit a written request.